Chicken Macadamia

After 20 mm of much-need winter rain, Lydia caught Speckles scratching

in the macadamia tree big pot. The macadamia tree is indigenous to

Australia and produces delicious round nuts (Gerard's favourite!)

The tree was burnt and suffered during the hot summer

temperatures and is beginning to grow again.

Frenchy and Chickadee join in the scratching action on ground level.

Chickadee is the same colour as the soil!

Frenchy and Chickadee move closer to Speckles in the pot.

Speckles takes a short break in the pot.

We're sure that she likes to eat the potting mix?!

BFC = Big Fat Chickadee!

Triple trouble.

Chickadee and Frenchy eat all the soil that Speckles has scratched out of the pot.

Speckles has dirty feet as she prepares to jump out of the macadamia tree pot.

The soil level in the pot is getting low, thanks to naughty Speckles!

The Taj Mahal Coop

The  Taj Mahal coop is painted and finished.

It's located in the secure chicken pen with a large shade sail over the top.

The side view.

Another view of the new coop.

We haven't installed the automatic coop door opener yet.

The coop was painted with two coats of Dulux Weathershield low sheen paint

in shades "Colorbond Cottage Green" and "Pyrenees Olive" on the walls.

Speckles and Chickadee check out the new internal ramp access.

Chickadee stands on the perch whilst Frenchy sits in the nesting box.

Speckles loves her new nesting box lined with fresh straw.

Chickadee is a happy hen.

Speckles is a curious creature.

Frenchy stands inside the Taj Mahal.

She is still growing her new black tail feathers after moulting. 

Building the Taj Mahal Coop

Lydia spent a long time painting the Taj Mahal coop before assembling it.

Speckles tried out the perches before the coop roof was put on.

Speckles liked sitting on her new perches even

though the new coop wasn't fully assembled!

The inside of the coop was painted with two coats of

Dulux Weathershield low sheen paint in shades "Colorbond Cottage Green"

on the perches and roof and "Pyrenees Olive" on the walls.

The new coop only had one coat of exterior paint in this photo.

Lydia decided to give the coop exterior a second coat of paint after

it was assembled (this is not what the instructions told her to do!)

Speckles climbed up the ramp for a Taj Mahal coop inspection.

Speckles took her first look inside her new home.

The Taj Mahal is quite roomy inside.

Watch out Speckles, you might be getting a new friend to join the flock soon?!

Unpacking The New Taj Mahal Coop

Last year, Lydia ordered a fancy new flat packed chicken coop

called "the Taj Mahal" from Backyard Chicken Coops in Australia.

We decided that it was time for a coop upgrade since increasing our

flock from 2 to 3 hens (there may be a 4th hen this year so stay tuned?!)

https://www.backyardchickencoops.com.au/products/the-taj-mahal

Curious Speckles checked out the new coop pieces as the large boxes

were unpacked. Chickadee and Frenchy were no where to be seen. 

The sun came out on a cloudy day whilst Speckles

wandered around the new items laid on the ground.

"Inspector Speckles" poked her head in the empty box.

What's in there?

The Taj Mahal coop is fully unpacked and ready for painting and assembly.

Easter Antics

Chickadee, Speckles and Frenchy go for a walk in their enclosure at Easter.

The hens love to eat green grass which has been in

short supply after a hot and dry summer in Australia.

Speckles stands on the grape vine growing on the ground.

Speckles hunts for bugs under the grape vine.

Tails up at Easter!

Frenchy (on right) is still growing new tail feathers after moulting.

The 3 Happy Hens hunt for bugs along the fence line.

Frenchy takes the lead.

After a chilly Good Friday with a cold wind, the weather

warmed up and the sun came out over the Easter long weekend. 

Speckles finds a sunny spot in the chicken enclosure.

Chickadee, Frenchy and Speckles flock to their favourite corner to hang out.

Frenchy looks funny standing on one leg with her wings raised.

 Chickadee looks enormous as she stands in the A-frame tractor coop.

Happy Easter from 'the girls'!

Autumn Moulting

Chickadee was the first hen to start moulting last

month after she dropped all her lovely black tail feathers.

Chickadee looks like a bobtail hen!

Chickadee lost feathers on her back.

You can see the new feather spikes on the bare patch on her back.

The wind blows and fluffs up Chickadee's rear where

you can see her new tail feather spikes growing.

Chickadee looks a bit scruffy when she's moulting.

New feather spikes are visible on her wing and back.

The girls stand under the outdoor table setting.

 Chickadee shakes her whole body.

The white flakes in the air are the new feather

spike coverings which we call 'dandruff'.

Speckles started moulting a few weeks after Chickadee.

Speckles (on the right) looks like a puff ball without her tail.

The 14 month old hen is doing her first, small

moult and she hasn't lost many body feathers.

Chickadee is snoozing. The girls sleep a lot when they're moulting.

Frenchy looks 'rough around the edges' when she is moulting.

The 14 month old hen has also lost her black tail
feathers and hasn't dropped many body feathers.

Paint Your Pet Workshop

Lydia chose this portrait photo of Nestle to paint last Friday

at a 'Paint Your Pet' workshop taught by a local artist.

Although crafty, Lydia had never painted in her life and she was a bit

apprehensive about attending the workshop with a couple of friends.

Nonetheless, Lydia gave it a go and was taught the grid method of painting. 

Lydia was amazed at her painting on canvas as it

really does looks like Nestle in the photo!

Gerard was very impressed with Lydia's artwork.

Sonya and Lydia stand proud with their finished pet paintings.

We think Jen's cartoon-style poodle painting

on a pink background is very cute!